Soap chipper



Oct. 31, 1950 c. L. LANG EI'AL SOAP CHIPPER Filed Jan. 22, 1949\NVENTORS CLAYTON L. LANG, DECEASED BY MAR/0N V LANG, ADMINISTRATRIXCARL A. SETTERSTEDT ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 31, 1950 SOAP CHIPPER ClaytonL. Lang, deceased, late of Park Ridge,

111., by Marion V. Lang,

administratrix, Park Ridge, 111., and Carl A. Setterstedt, Chicago, 111.Application January 22, 1949, Serial N 0. 72,212

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for shavin or chipping bar soap andit is particularly adapted for domestic use.

It is well known that bar soaps are used extensively for variouspurposes, for example, laundry, dishwashing, personal cleansing andsundry other purposes. Although it is generally recognized that soap inbar form is most economical, certain disadvantages accompany its use,such as the time required to effect a solution of sufficientconcentration for the intended use. Manufacturers of soap products haverecognized this disadvantage of bar soap and have made soap avallable inthe form of flakes, chips, granules, powder, etc., all of which arecapable of more readily forming a soap solution. However, many usersprefer to use the economical bar soap regardless of the disadvantagesencountered. Further, many types of special purpose soaps can beobtained only in bar form and therefore they cannot be used to bestadvantage except by performing a laborious chipping or shaving operationon the bar soap with a common knife or other equally unsatisfactorymeans. Hence, one of the objects of this invention is to provide aninexpensive device for shaving or chipping bar soap.

Another object is to provide a device that has domestic utility toeliminate the disadvantages in the use of bar soap and thereby increaseits economic advantage over soap in other than bar form. I

An additional object is to provide a, cutting device for bar soaps thatwill notbecome clogged during use when cutting comparatively thin soapchips that may readily be dissolved in solution A' more specific objectis to provide a device-of the foregoing character having a rotatablecylinder' in the walls of which are located a plurality of' axiallyaligned elongatedslots, circumferentially'spaced around the cylinder instaggered relation with the circumferential spacing portions of thecylinder wall forming a fiat surface between each adjacent axiallyaligned series of slots, whereby a bar of soap held in contact with theperiphery of the rotating cylinder will be shaved by the elongated slotsand the soap shavings will be received interiorly of the cylinder andthen be discharged from its open end.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: e

Figure l is an end elevational view of asoap' chipper embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of'the soap chipper shown in Fig. 1;i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, separated side elevational view of the rotatablechipper cylinder embodied in the soap chipper shown in Figs. 1 and 2;and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the rotatablechipper cylinder taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the soap chipper illustrated in Fig. 1 isprovided with a base I!) preferably formed of sheet metal strips II and!2, respectively having outwardly directed ear portions [3 and Mdisposed in planar alignment. The ear portions l3 and M are spaced onefrom the other by a plate l5 which is permanently secured to the earportions such as by a weld (not shown) or other suitable means.

The upper ends of metal strips II to 12 are respectively formed withdiverging, arcuately shaped ear portions l6 and i! which are shaped toconform with the outer contour of a cylindrically shaped shell or casemember l8 having an open end Ilia. Access to the interior of the shelll8 and through the side wall thereof is provided by a generallyrectangular-shaped chutelike member I9 having an open top 20 and beingdisposed diametrically opposite the base ill. The chute 19 also has anopen bottom in registration with an opening 2| provided in the side wallof the shell 58. Both the base l0 and the chute 19 are fixedly securedto the shell l8, such as by spot-welds 22.

One end of the shell I8 is closed by a snugly received end plate 23secured to the shell and which is preferably formed of wood having anopening 24 disposed in axial alignment with the shell. The opening 24 isadapted to freely receive a stub-shaft 25 projecting beyond each side ofthe end plate 23. The outer end of shaft 25 is secured to a crank arm 26having a rotatable knob 21 carried at its outer end and by means ofwhich the stub-shaft may be rotated in the end plate 23. The inner endof the stub-shaft 25 has a reduced, threaded end portion 28 which isadapted to receive and support the rotatable means for shaving orchipping bar soap.

The shaving or chipping means of this invention is comprised of agenerally cylindrical shaped chipper member 29 (Fig. 3) adapted to betele scopically received within the shell 18 and having one of its ends29a open and the other end substantially closed by an end plate 36secured to the sidewall of the membe 29. The end plate 30 has an opening3! disposed in axial alignment with the chipper member 29 so that whenthe end 28 of the stub-shaft 25 is received in the opening 3| and thechipper member is secured in this position by means are lock nut 83, the

chipper member may be rotated with the crank arm 26 in concentricrelation with and spaced from the internal side walls of the shell l8.It will be noted that the chipper member 29 has end portions 33 and 34extending longitudinally inwardly of the member a short distance andwhich end portions are circular in shape and have a slightly largerdiameter than a wall portion 35 of the chipper member locatedtherebetween, whereby the chipper member is made more rigid to preventits distortion when pressures are applied thereon in a direction normalwith its axis.

The adhesive nature of soap is well known and this characteristic makesthe use of an ordinary grater or shredder type of cutting elementimpractical when applied to the problem of shaving or chipping bar soapbecause the cutting elements become clogged with adhering soap particlesand thereafter are ineffective. The cutter of this invention solves theproblem by means of the novel arrangement of the cutting elements in theside wall of the chipper member 29. Specifically, the portion 35 of thechipper wall disposed between the circular ends 33 and 34 is providedwith a series of circumferentially disposed fiat surfaces 36 (Fig. 4)extending longitudinally of the chipper member 29 between theendportions 33 and 34. It will be noted that succeedingfiat surfaces 36 aredisposed at a relatively wide obtuse angle one with another about thechipper member 29 and it has been'found that this arrangement materiallyaids in the prevention of the accumulation of soap particles which wouldtend to clog and make the ordinary cutter inoperative. Between eachadjoining flat surface 36, a series of elongated, medially alignedopenings 31 is provided in the cylinder wall portion 35 and each seriesof aligned openings 31 is displaced longitudinally relative to theadjacent aligned series of openings circumferentially spaced on eachside thereof, so that when proceeding around the wall portion 35, eachcorresponding opening in alternate series of openings will be similarlyspaced from the end of the chipper member 29. The openings 37 arefurther arranged so that the longitudinal edges 38 of each opening aredisposed parallel and are equally spaced radially from the axis of thechipper member 29', This arrangement is illustrated in. Fig. 4whereinradial lines R designate the spacing of the edges 38- from theaxial center C of the chipper member 29. Further, end walls 35 foreachopening 31 are semi-circular in shape to aidin the chipping actionwithout clogging of the openings.

The soap chipper of this invention. may be mounted either vertically orhorizontallyon: a supporting surface; however, it has been found to bepreferable to mount itw-ith the axis of the shell H3 in a verticalposition so that during useof the device the. soapchips or shavings willdrop under the urge of gravity from the open end 290. of the chippermember into any suitable container (not shown) that may be placed underthe device. The device may be secured to a wall or other support surfaceby adequate fastening means, for example screws 39 or appliancerotatethe chipper member. As succeeding series of openings 3! encounter thebar soap, small chips or flakes are cut therefrom which pass through theopenings into the cylindricallyshaped chipper member and are thendischarged from its open end 29a. The succeeding flat surfaces 36 beingmutually inclined at a wide obtuse angle cooperate with the interposedseries of openings 31 to effectively chip the bar soap into small flakesthat can be readily dissolved in solution for maximum efficiency andeconomy. There is no tendency of the device to become clogged andinoperative. Therefore, it may be used continuously without interruptionfor cleaning until the desired quantity of soap chips have beenproduced.

We claim:

1. A soap chipper for bar soap comprising a cylindrical shaped shellhaving an open end, a generally cylindrically-shaped chipper membersupported concentrically with and interiorly of said shell for rotationrelative thereto, an opening in the side wall of said shell registeringwith a portion of the side wall of said chipper member, and meansconnected to said chipper member for rotating said chipper memberinteriorly of said shell, said chipper member having an open end and aseries of elongated and medially aligned openings in said portion of itsside wall disposed axially of said chipper member and forming cuttingelements adapted to chip, said side wall portion adjoining thecorresponding longitudinal edges on one side of said series of openingshaving a fiat surface inclined with a second fiat surface at a wideobtuse angle on said side wall portion adjoining the longitudinal edgeson the other side of said series of openings whereby, with a bar of soapin registration with said shell side wall opening and in contact withsaid side wall portion of said chipper member, rotation of said chippermember in either direction will cause the bar soap to be chipped and thesoap chips will pass through said series of openings interiorly of said.chipper member and be discharged from the said open ends of said chippermember and shell.

2. A soap chipper for bar soap comprising a cylindrical shaped shellhaving an open end, a generally cylindrically-shaped chipper membertelescopically and concentrically supported within said shell forrotation relative thereto, an opening in the side wall of said shellregistering with the side wall of said chipper member for receiving thebar soap to be chipped, and means connected to said chipper member andextending exteriorly of said shell for rotating said chipper member,said chipper member having an open end, aplurality of longitudinallydisposed fiat wall surfaces circumferentially arranged about theperiphery of said chipper element with adjacent said wall surfacesmutually inclined at a relatively wide obtuse angle, and a plurality ofseries of elongated, longitudinally aligned openings in the side wall ofsaid chipper member forming cutting elements for chipping the bar soapduring rotation of said member in either direction, each said series ofopenings being disposed intermediate adjacent said flat wall surfaceswith succeeding said series of openings being relatively axiallydisplaced along said chipper member, and with alternate said series ofopenings being axially aligned along said chipper member.

3. A device of the class described including a cylindrically-shaped casemember having an open end, support means for said case member secured tothe outer side wall thereof, an opening in the side wall of said casemember disposed diametrically opposite said support means, acylindrically-shaped chipper member having an open end, said chippermember being supported interiorly of said case member in common axialrelation therewith and with said open ends of,

said members disposed at the same end of the common axis, and means forrotating said chipper member on the common axis and relative to saidcase member, said chipper member having its side wall provided with atleast two adjacent, elongated, flat surfaces extending axially of thechipper member and inclined with a radial line of said chipper member ata similar, relatively wide acute angle therewith, and a series ofelongated openings in the side wall of said chipper member disposed inspaced relation and in relative longitudinal, axial alignment betweensaid adjacent flat surfaces and forming cutting elements, whereby when abar of soap is inserted through said side wall opening in said casemember and against the side wall of said chipper member and said chippermember is rotated, the bar of soap will be chipped by the edges of saidseries of openings in said chipper member and the soap chips will bedischarged from said open ends of said case and chipper members.

4. A rotatable cylinder for chipping bar soap, said cylinder having anopen end, a plurality of elongated flat surfaces on the side wallthereof circumferentially disposed and spaced from the ends of saidcylinder, and a plurality of elongated openings in the side wall of saidcylinder disposed in relative longitudinal medial alignment with thelongitudinal medial line parallel with the axis of the cylinder andforming cutting elements, said openings being disposed between adjacentsaid flat surfaces and havingtheir longitudinal edges disposedequidistant from the axis of the cylinder, whereby when said cylinder isrotated in either direction and the bar of soap is held in contact withthe side wall of said cylinder, the bar of soap will be chipped by theedges of said openings in said cylinder wall and the soap chips will bedischarged from said open end of the cylinder.

5. As an article of manufacturing, a rotatable cylinder for chipping barsoap, said cylinder having an open end, a plurality of elongated flatsurfaces on the side wall thereof circumferentially disposed and spacedfrom the ends of said cylinder, a plurality of cutting elements forchipping bar soap, said cutting elements formed by the axially extendinglongitudinal edges of a plurality of elongated openings in the side wallof said cylinder disposed in relative longitudinal medial alignment withthe longitudinalmedial line parallel with the axis of the cylinder, andsaid openings being disposed between adjacent said flat surfaces andhaving their longitudinal edges forming the cutting elements disposedequidistant from the axis of the cylinder, whereby when said cylinder isrotated and the bar of soap is held in contact with the side wall ofsaid cylinder, the bar of soap will be chipped by the longitudinal edgesof said openings in said cylinder wall and the soap chips will bedischarged from said open end of the cylinder.

6. The combination with a soap chipper for bar soap comprising acylindrical shaped shell having an open end, of a rotatable cylinder forchipping bar soap, said cylinder having an open end, a plurality ofelongated flat surfaces on the side wall thereof circumferentiallydisposed and spaced from the ends of said cylinder, a plurality ofcutting elements for chipping bar soap, said cutting elements formed bythe axially extending longitudinal edges of a plurality of elongatedopenings in the side wall of said cylinder disposed in relativelongitudinal medial alignment with the longitudinal medial line parallelwith the axis of the cylinder, and said openings being disposed betweenadjacent said fiat surfaces and having their longitudinal edges formingthe cutting elements disposed equidistant from the axis of the cylinder,whereby when said cylinder is rotated and the bar of soap is held incontact with the side wall of said cylinder, the bar of soap will bechipped by the longitudinal edges of said openings in said cylinder walland the soap chips will be discharged from said open end of thecylinder.

MARION V. LANG, Administratrix of the Estate of Clayton L. Lang,

Deceased.

CARL A. SETTERSTEDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 26,711 Schutte Jan. 3, 1860544,807 Grote Aug. 20, 1895 1,095,001 Lade Apr. 28, 1914 1,513,880Astesano Nov. 4, 1924 2,228,025 Apfelbeck Jan. 7, 1941

